Lash extensions are very popular, I wanted to be able to provide people with the service they were asking me for. So many girls want to have them for holidays, nights out, special events or just day to day wear. Add this to my belief that if you’ve got the chance to learn something new you should throw yourself into it, I would have been silly not to have grabbed the opportunity!
So, I started to learn just before summer last year and when I started doing Classic Lashes at De Lacy I was definitely already at a point where I felt comfortable with them but the more you do the more confident you get. I had an eye model at home which had only one eye and was a little strange, but I used to time myself whilst practicing doing the lashes on the eye model to perfect my technique, accuracy and application timing.
Getting friends and family to model for me, spending all of my free time just practicing and getting better really! The girls at the salon have been amazing...I’ve done all the teams lashes over the course of my journey to practice and perfect my skills! I have got Omaima, one of our senior therapists hooked!
When I did my course I got a training kit and once I had nailed the technique I really wanted to crack on and move onto the next stage and learn more about the hybrid types....seeing Instagram images with photos and videos makes you want to improve and learn more. I am always looking for inspiration and looking to expand my skill set and knowledge.
When clients get their full sets done and I see they have booked in for an infill it’s an amazing feeling knowing that they love them and want to keep up with the upkeep. Hearing people saying how much time they save in the morning, seeing their reaction once they have had their initial full treatment and then watching them look in the mirror seeing the smiles on their faces makes it so worthwhile. Knowing that it’s boosting someone’s confidence or just making them feel more put together and glamorous is a great feeling.
It takes a while to get the hang of it, there are so many different methods of application and it’s all about finding what works for you and ensuring that the clients receive the best possible service. Developing the patience and to stay motivated to keep going and practicing takes time and so much perseverance to not get frustrated with yourself while learning the skill set. People are always commenting on how much patience I have, it’s definitely been a learning curve!
Watching others applying them has also helped me to perfect my craft, ensuring you have prep done and that when clients pop in for their patch test finding out what kind of look they would like so I can be ready for their application appointment having the correct lashes at the ready is also key.
I love finding tiny layers in the natural lashes making sure that the smaller natural lashes in the corner of the eye and filling that out and so it looks much fuller. The key is finding the right brand that has all the lashes you could possibly ever want and need to offer a client. Not everyone wants the same length, curl or thickness!
People tend to go for the thinner lashes as the thicker ones are too heavy and fall out easily, I also find that thinner lashes look more defined. When I first started, I used the thicker lashes, I have since learnt that using thinner lashes is so much healthier for your lashes. They look tidier and create more of an impact too.
Not everyone offers patch testing in salons, it can be rare for people to have a reaction, however I wouldn’t think twice about offering someone extensions without having a patch test in case they were to have a reaction, after all you only get one set of eyes, you need to look after them!
If people have damage from having used lash curlers or perhaps if they have recently had a dolly lash treatment that would need to be left to grow out first! It is so important to let your lashes grow and get back to their optimum health, as with classics we can only apply them to what natural lashes someone already have, and we wouldn’t want to damage that.
They are definitely for everyone; I have clients of all age ranges and cater to suit any needs. There is such a misconception that individual lash extensions need to look false and that isn’t the case. I always make sure I ask the type of look someone would like to achieve, be it a natural look, for day to day wear or something more glamorous.
Many people believe that having lash extensions can ruin your lashes, this isn’t true at all. Having the right application and the right lash technician with the correct after care advise is key here. By getting them infilled every 2 to 3 weeks and keeping them clean at home and following the right after care advise, there is no need to have a break between infills or applications, it’s all about caring for them correctly and following the advice given.